What is prayer?
Prayer is when we talk to God.
Prayer is when we ask God questions.
Prayer is when we thank God.
Prayer is when we praise God.
Prayer is when we complain or cry out to God.
Prayer is when we ask God for help.
What is contemplative prayer?
It is like a reverse prayer.
We shut up.
We let God pray in us.
Why would we want to do this?
First of all if you want to have a deeper and more intimate relationship with God you cannot be the only one who talks.
You need to be quiet and listen.
(Even Jesus was known to go off to be alone.)
You need to silently sit.
I do this via my silent prayer practice called Centering Prayer.
God seems to speak quietly, deep within my soul beyond words, thoughts, emotions and physical sensations.
I seem to arise from my silent sit calm, yet energized.
I arise from my sit excited to take on the day.
I am filled with wisdom and confidence.
I learn how to be patient, to love and to listen.
Lastly, I seem to arise from my sit full of inner actions that God wants me take.
So, I encourage you to try a silent sit.
And see what happens…….
P.S. Need help with your centering prayer practice. Contact me about my coaching. I might be able to help
Go Further:
Becoming an Ordinary Mystic: Spirituality for the Rest of Us by Albert Haase, OFM
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice by Cynthia Bourgeault
The Loving Search for God: Contemplative Prayer and the Cloud of Unknowing by William Meninger
Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation by Phileena Heuertz
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